Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said on Saturday that two warships docked at Saint Petersburg.

Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi also visited Saint Petersburg at the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. He is heading an Iranian military delegation.

Jalali also said that Khanzadi plans to hold meetings with high military officials of the Russian Federation and other countries taking part in the event.

The Iranian naval destroyer Sahand and the accompanying support vessel Makran arrived in the Russian port city on Saturday to take part in the military parade.

Khanzadi said that the two Iranian ships that started sailing a few months ago have now reached the Gulf of Finland and the waters off St. Petersburg.

“During this long journey, these ships entered a strategic area of the world, which is unprecedented,” the navy chief remarked.

The Gulf of Finland stretches between Finland in the north and Estonia in the south, east of St. Petersburg, Russia, where the Neva River merges.

The appearance of Sahand and Makran in the Gulf of Finland is a “historic event,” Khanzadi said. “This success means that the gates of the North Sea and Finland are open to the fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The chief of the Iranian Navy also stated that during this trip he will meet with senior Russian military and defense officials.

The two vessels left Iran’s Bandar Abbas port in May. Images from Maxar Technologies dated April 28 appear to show seven Iranian fast-attack craft (FAC) typically associated with the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on the deck of Makran.

Iran has been navigating the European waters legally, showing off its power and importance, especially when the Americans speculated Iranian vessels cannot navigate long paths.

The Danish Defense Ministry posted photographs online on Thursday from the Royal Danish Air Force of the new domestically built Iranian destroyer Sahand and the intelligence-gathering vessel Makran passing by the Danish Island of Bornholm.

“It is expected that they are on their way to the annual naval parade in St Petersburg,” the Danish military wrote on Twitter.

The Danish military photos showed those seven vessels covered and still aboard Makran on Thursday. The fast-attack craft aboard Makran is the type that the IRGC uses in its encounters with U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf and its narrow mouth, the Strait of Hormuz.

The website Politico first reported in late May, citing anonymous officials, that the ships’ last destination may be Venezuela. However, it appears the vessels instead went around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope and continued north on an unusually long voyage.

Commissioned earlier this year, Makran is a former oil tanker and, with a length of 755 feet, is the largest vessel in the IRIN fleet, drawing comparisons with the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Sea Bases (ESB), which are 764 feet long.

Makran can accommodate helicopters, but lacks hangars, and has also been used on maneuvers with drones, FAC, and mini-submarines.

Sahand has in the past been described by Iran as a destroyer, with a displacement of 2,000 tons. It is more accurately categorized as a frigate or even a corvette. The design is a derivative of British-made warships that were supplied to the country in the 1970s, before the Iranian Revolution.

Sahand is fitted with launchers for Qader subsonic anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as Sayyad-2 surface-to-air missiles, an Iranian adaptation of the U.S. RIM-66 Standard Missile-1 (SM-1). The warship also features a 76mm main gun and torpedo tubes, as well as various automatic cannons and machine guns for close-in defense.

As well as a rare appearance in northern European waters for Makran and Sahand — and for the IRIN — the apparent upcoming visit to the Baltic Sea is a mark of the deepening military relationship between Moscow and Tehran.

In recent months, the IRIN and Russian Navy have taken part in joint maneuvers in the Caspian Sea.

With that in mind, while the imminent presence of two Iranian warships in Russian Navy celebrations in St. Petersburg is mainly ceremonial, it could also be a portent of increasing naval cooperation between the two countries in the years to come. It also proves the fact that the IRIN is now an important naval player in open seas.

This year, the fifth parade of the Russian Navy in the contemporary history of the country (30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union), is being held on the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the Russian military fleet, the Russian defense minister said.

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Dena is the fourth Jamaran-class destroyer built by the Naval Industries of the Defense Ministry.

The Iranian destroyer – which is named after one of the most famous mountaintops of the country – is equipped with various defense and offense systems, is designed to make long journeys in the oceans, and is capable of detecting, tracking, and hitting various aerial, surface, and submarine targets.

Dena is reported to weigh more than 1300 tons, and is equipped with 4 cruise missiles ready to open fire at any threats. It is also capable of carrying helicopters on its deck.

Shahin, the other new addition to the Iranian naval fleet, is a minesweeper with a length of 33 meters that was developed and built by local Defense Ministry engineers.

The military ship is outfitted with cutting-edge technology that allows it to detect and detonate several types of naval mines.

Iranian military specialists and technicians have made significant progress in recent years in manufacturing a wide spectrum of indigenous weaponry, allowing the armed forces to be self-sufficient in the armaments sphere.

In the inauguration ceremony attended by top military commanders, President Rouhani ordered the Navy to unveil the latest accomplishments.

“The power of Iran and our armed forces is high only for deterrence and defense. We do not intend for war and tension, but will not yield to the invading powers,” he remarked.
He also said that today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is a power that guarantees the security of the region for itself and its neighbors.

“We explicitly declare to our dear neighbors that the power of our armed forces is not against you but also your supporter and protector, as well as for the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and the Iranian army is the defender of its own and regional countries’ independence,” the president added.

Iran has long been the icon of the peace in the region, offering peace initiatives and inviting neighbors and regional countries to sit at the same table to negotiate. Iranian politicians have always believed that tensions in the region can be reduced through dialogue.

Iran’s multilayered strategy shows the complexity of diplomacy in the region. On the one hand, the approach of peace initiatives put forward by the Islamic Republic has earned the country a reputation as a key player in maintaining peace and security in the region. And on the other hand, Iran, a country surrounded by 40 U.S. military bases in the West Asia, needs to boost its defensive abilities to protect itself from the unwanted guests in the region. These unwanted guests have time and again shown that they do not understand diplomacy, and they act barbarically. Iraq and Afghanistan are true examples of the American barbarism.

With Iran enhancing its defensive capabilities, the neighboring countries can also benefit from the advanced defensive equipment the Islamic Republic has.

The West Asia has long suffered from instability and tension, too weak to reform itself. That is when the neighbors come to the rescue. For example, in case of ISIS, Iran helped its neighbor Iraq to retain stability. Iran also helped Syria overthrow ISIS.

A coin has two sides. Iran has offered peace initiatives such as HOPE (Hormuz Peace Endeavor), Regional Dialogue Forum, the 4-point plan to establish peace in Yemen, the 4-point plan to establish peace in Syria, the Palestinian cause, etc. On the other side of the coin, there is Iran’s military power which assures every country in West Asia that there will be a strong help in case an intruding power comes to destabilize.

The recent negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with the recent unveilings of the Iranian naval force accomplishments suggest the perfect implementation of this multi-layered strategy of boosting defensive facilities and capabilities, along with shaping dialogue and negotiating with neighboring countries.

This strategy was highlighted on Monday once again by Iranian officials. “Even when Saudi Arabia was not interested in negotiations, we stressed that the dialogue is the best way to resolve the issues,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday – the same day Dena was unveiled – and added that Iran will take the dialogue forward in a noteworthy manner.

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The bill, led by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), would give the Senate veto power over any attempt by the Biden administration to reenter the nuclear deal — which was effectively dissolved when former President Donald Trump withdrew from the pact in 2018 — by deeming it a treaty, which mandates approval from the upper chamber.

The GOP proposal comes as top Biden officials are holding indirect talks with the Iranians in Vienna in a bid to revive the Obama-era deal, which Republicans uniformly opposed. GOP lawmakers have introduced several measures aimed at preventing Biden from lifting the biting sanctions that Trump imposed on Tehran as part of his administration’s “maximum pressure” doctrine.

“Any potential agreement with Iran involves risks that affect our entire nation. It is critical to the security of America and to world peace that any deal Biden negotiates with Iran be deemed a treaty requiring approval by the U.S. Senate,” Johnson said.

Republicans have been pushing for Biden to use the Vienna talks to pressure Iran over its non-nuclear activities, too; but Democrats say that approach would be a death knell to efforts to revive the nuclear agreement.

Republicans’ new effort could further complicate the administration’s diplomatic efforts, since it’s aligned in spirit if not letter with a push that successfully afforded Congress veto power over the 2015 U.S.-Iran deal. The Johnson-led bill would subject any future agreement to a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, an even higher hurdle than the 60-vote threshold the 2015 pact was subjected to.

The 2015 nuclear deal is endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Most recently, the U.S. has been monitoring Iranian Navy ships that are making their way across the Atlantic Ocean, potentially for a weapons delivery to Venezuela. The Biden administration is pressuring the Venezuelan and Cuban governments to turn away the Iranian ships, and a senior administration official warned that the U.S. will take “appropriate measures in coordination with our partners to deter the transit or delivery of such weapons.”

A top Iranian military commander said on Thursday that the Iranian naval fleet, including two ships, has entered the Atlantic Ocean.

Habibollah Sayyari, deputy chief of the Army for coordination affairs, said Iran is entitled under international law to have a naval presence in international waters.

“We consider our presence in international waters an inalienable strategic right of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy and we will continue on this path with strength,” Rear Admiral Sayyari stated.

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According To Iran News, Defense Minister of Iran Brigadier General Amir Hatami warned the Persian Gulf countries not to make the “strategic mistake” of allowing the US entry into the region, cautioning that insecurity in the Persian Gulf will make the whole regional states insecure.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to a naval factory of the Defense Ministry in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas on Friday, Brigadier General Hatami said Iran is doing its utmost to ensure security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Security of the Persian Gulf is in the common interest of all regional countries, the general noted, adding, “The countries in this gulf’s region are responsible for ensuring and maintaining security, and the neighbors’ move to allow the US entry into the region is a strategic mistake.”

“When the Persian Gulf region is safe, all regional countries will benefit from such security, but if the Persian Gulf becomes insecure, it will be insecure for all countries in the region,” the minister warned.

He also took a swipe at the outsiders for fomenting insecurity and crisis in the region under the pretext of ensuring security of the Persian Gulf, saying the foreigners are seeking to sell billions of dollars in arms and maintain their bases in the region by inciting Iranophobia, creating crisis in the Persian Gulf, and making the Persian Gulf countries dependent on outsiders for security.

The minister also paid a visit to the industrial shops manufacturing two military vessels, a destroyer and a minesweeper.

He said the homegrown ‘Dena’ destroyer is a Mowj-class vessel that will be equipped with advanced systems and will soon join the Iranian Navy’s fleet.

The general further hailed the production of ‘Saba’ minesweeper as a glory of the Iranian military technicians in the naval combat sphere, saying the warship will begin to detect and counter the threat of naval mines in the regional waters.

General Hatami then reaffirmed that the Defense Ministry will fully support the naval industries to enable them to protect the country’s territorial waters in the international waters, the Sea of Oman, and the coasts of Makran.

“The Iranian Navy’s powerful presence is considered as a reliable support in the fight against terrorism in the seas,” the minister underscored.

Iran has frequently criticized the presence of foreign forces in the Persian Gulf, stressing that it disrupts security in the region and that only regional states are responsible for safeguarding the security in the body of water.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has already underlined that the security of the Persian Gulf region comes within the purview of the regional countries alone.

“The Persian Gulf security relates to the countries of the region which have common interests, and not to the US. So, the security of the Persian Gulf region should be provided by the countries of this region itself,” the Leader said in 2016.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – At least 19 have been killed and 15 others injured in a naval accident involving a light Iranian vessel in the south of the country.

The accident happened to Konarak vessel off the port city of Jaask, according to a statement by the Iranian Army’s Navy.

It occurred when a number of vessels belonging to the Iranian Navy were conducting exercises.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the accident.

Health officials say right after the incident on Sunday evening, 10 ambulances were sent to Haft-e Tir wharf to take the injured to the hospital.

They say a total of 16 people have been taken to Imam Ali Hospital, with two people in ICU and one in surgery.

The Konarak Vessel, with body number 1403, is one of several Iranian “Hendijan” class navy vessels that are responsible for logistics and support.

These vessels were made by the Dutch Damen factory in 1988, and are known by MIG-S-4700-SC ID.

The Hendijan class vessels (including the Kunarak) are 47 metres long, and 8.5 metres wide, while their draft is 2.9 metres.

With a carrying capacity of 460 tonnes, these vessels can play the role of a light logistics boat capable of carrying more than 100 people at high speed.

Mine laying and carrying up to 40 tonnes of water and the capacity to carry cargos up to 40 tonnes only on the deck are among other capabilities of this boat.People Killed in Konarak Accident

Although these vessels, as mentioned, have the main task of supporting, but according to Tasnim News Agency, some of them (including Konarak) have been equipped with various weapons such as cruise missiles in recent years, and in addition to their main task, they can also appear as a patrol vessel.

Another weapon mounted on these vessels include a Oerlikon 20 mm cannon.

However, on some of these Hendijan-class vessels, instead of cruise missiles, UAV launchers have been installed, which will help them in reconnaissance missions.

It should be noted that the Konarak vessel joined the fleet of Iran’s Army Navy in Konarak city on October 7, 2018.

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IRAN NEWS NATIONAL DESK

TEHRAN – There is no place for American forces in the region anymore, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said.

“Today, the era of American free action in the region is over, and they (U.S. forces) must leave the region gradually,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi told reporters on Sunday on the sidelines of a joint naval exercise of Iran, Russia and China, which is underway in the Sea of Oman and the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

“We believe that regional security does not require the presence of those (foreign) countries, and that regional countries themselves can ensure security together,” he added.

The Iranian Navy commander also expressed hope that more regional states would join Iran in the efforts to ensure security.

“We believe that maritime security definitely needs collective action,” Khanzadi added.

He went on to say that friends of Iran and those favoring regional security have welcomed the joint naval drill, while the U.S. and its proxies who seek to impose inappropriate security arrangements on the region would receive “significant messages” from the war game.

The various phases of the tactical exercises have been carried out in this maneuver successfully till now, he said.

Iran believes that maritime security is an issue that needs to be worked on collectively by countries with maritime capacity, he added.

Noting a new level of the development of relations and cooperation between the three countries of Iran, Russia, and China at their highest level is being displayed, Khanzadi said holding such military drills which are aimed at providing security in the region indicates that the participant countries have cooperated well in other aspects of politics, economics, and so on.

Referring to close cooperation of these three Asian civilizational powers, Navy Commander noted that they set the bold lines for both the region and the world by showing their cooperation not in a separate movement but in a coalition.

The security of the region will be certainly provided by regional countries, he said, adding that Iran invites all the countries of the region to join this regional convergence and coalition for the next time.

Regional countries and our friends enthusiastically followed the joint military drills, he added, saying that good media coverage came from both inside and outside the country.

The joint drill, which is the first of such cooperation with Iran since the 1979 victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution with two major world naval powers at this scale showed that the efforts, investment, and sanctions for isolating Iran have not only worked but have also led to the convergence and unity of regional powers, he added.

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According To Iran News, Commander of the Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the force’s first combat drone with jet engines dubbed “Sejjil” has been designed by domestic military experts and is planned to be built soon.

Speaking to Tasnim, Rear Admiral Khanzadi said the combat drone uses two jet engines that enable it to reach a speed of 1,000 km/h.

The UAV can also carry missiles with a range of 100 kilometers, the top commander added.

He noted that the half-size prototype of the drone has been built and successfully tested at the Iranian ministry of Defense.

Rear Admiral Khanzadi went on to say that Sejjil can be launched from vessels and recovered by parachute.

Iranian military experts and technicians have in recent years made great headways in manufacturing a broad range of indigenous equipment, making the armed forces self-sufficient in the arms sphere.

Iranian officials have repeatedly underscored that the country will not hesitate to strengthen its military capabilities, which are entirely meant for defense and will be never subject to negotiations.

Back in February 2018, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called for efforts to maintain and boost Iran’s defense capabilities, hitting back at the enemies for disputing the country’s missile program.

“Without a moment of hesitation, the country must move to acquire whatever is necessary for defense, even if the whole world is opposed to it,” Ayatollah Khamenei said at the time.

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According To Iran News, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said the force is equipping two destroyers with vertical launch systems (VLS) and is planning to install the system on all its frigates in the future.

“The operations to install VLS on Dena and Damavand destroyers are underway, and the systems will be tested in the near future,” Rear Admiral Khanzadi said on Saturday.

Referring to the remarks of Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who put emphasis on enhancing the country’s defensive capabilities in all spheres, including the strategic marine sector, the navy chief said, such developments will not be limited to Damavand and Dena.

“All Navy destroyers will be equipped with the same system in the future,” he added.

VLS is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines.

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Iran manufactures drones as a low-cost piece of military equipment to keep watch on the region, he said.

The admiral also said the Islamic Republic is monitoring U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf and has a large archive of moment-by-moment movements of vessels belonging to the U.S. and its allies.

“We can bravely declare that we observe all enemy ships, particularly Americans, point-by-point from their starting point until the moment they enter the region,” he said.

He added that the Iranian armed forces also possess information about the type of their missions and their conduct in the region.

He also censured the British seizure of an oil tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Strait of Gibraltar on July 4, adding that the era of “bullying” in the sea is over, and that the interests and sovereignty of all nations should be respected.

Pointing to the June 19 unsafe maneuver by the British-flagged Stena Impero tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which led to its detention by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Khanzadi said the British tanker violated Iranian and international maritime law, entered the Strait of Hormuz from a busy exit lane, turned off its trackers, and had incomplete documents.

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Amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington, the U.S. announced on May 5 that it was sending military reinforcements, including the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, a squadron of B-52 bombers, and a battery of patriot missiles, to the Middle East, citing alleged unspecified “threats” from Iran.

One month after its arrival in the region, the Lincoln has not entered the Persian Gulf, and it’s not apparent that it will. The USS Gonzalez, a destroyer that is part of the Lincoln strike group, is operating in the Persian Gulf.

Last week, the Lincoln was some 320 kilometers (200 miles) off the eastern coast of Oman in the Arabian Sea. It would still need to pass through the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz before reaching the Persian Gulf.

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